Female major wins payout and letter of praise

Rabia Siddique helped rescue two SAS soldiers held captive in Iraq and then
sued the military over claims she was victimised for being Muslim has
obtained a payout and a letter of praise from the head of the Army.

Sir Richard Dannatt applauded her role in a tense stand-offPhoto: PA

By Caroline Gammell

7:29PM BST 09 Jun 2008

Whilst working as a lawyer for the Army Legal Services, she alleged, she had been targeted for her faith and being an "Asian woman" before being subjected to months of sexual, religious and racial discrimination.

The 36-year-old said her role in negotiations to rescue the SAS prisoners in Basra in September 2005 was marginalised when she was awarded a minor decoration while a senior officer was given the Military Cross.

Yesterday, the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Richard Dannatt, applauded her role as interpreter and legal adviser in the tense stand-off between Iraqi police and British troops.

He said the Army would "carefully consider" the way she felt she was treated and make sure the "appropriate lessons are learnt".

Major Siddique launched a bid for £625,000 compensation but after a day of negotiations between her lawyers and the Ministry Defence, an undisclosed settlement was agreed.

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Her lawyer Joanna Wade said Major Siddique had been "very happy" with the agreement, but refused to divulge details. Part of the deal was the latter from Gen Sir Richard.

Major Siddique was trying to help secure the freedom of two undercover SAS soldiers who - dressed as Arabs - were spotted by a plain clothes Iraqi policeman and captured after a fierce gun battle.

She was part of the team which voluntarily went to the police station, knowing they were at risk of capture themselves. At one point she was held at gunpoint for several hours.

Although negotiations failed, the prisoners were eventually rescued after Warrior armoured vehicles smashed through the wall of the police station and SAS soldiers rescued the hostages from a nearby house.

Gen Sir Richard wrote: "Dear Major Siddique, I recognise the part you played in the incident on September 19 2005 at Jamiat police station in Basra.

"I would like to express, on behalf of the Army, my pride at the courageous manner in which you conducted yourself on that occasion and the other work you did in Iraq, for which you received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service.

"The Army will consider carefully your perception of the way that you were treated in the period that followed the Jamiat incident with a view to ensuring that appropriate lessons are learnt.

"I wish you all success in your future career'."

Major Siddique, who is still a serving member of the Army but leaving to become a civil lawyer, said she was proud of her achievements since joining the Army in 2001, after qualifying as a lawyer in 1996.

Speaking out the Central London Employment Tribunal, she said: "I am honoured to have served as a legal officer in the Armed Forces for the last seven years and for most of that time I enjoyed my career very much.

"I am disappointed that matters came to this but content now to be able to move on.

"I am also pleased to hear what the Chief of the General Staff has said about lessons that may be learnt, which is primarily what I was seeking by bringing these claims."

Earlier the officer, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, said she had been "treated unfavourably because I am a Muslim, Asian woman".

She accused Brig John Lorimer, the commander of 12 Mechanised Brigade in Basra, and Major Gen David Howell, the director of Army Legal Services, of damaging her career - a claim both officers strongly denied.

Major Siddique, an Australian-born British citizen brought up as a Muslim, said when she returned from Iraq she was only offered posts which "lacked prestige" and were "career limiting".

After the settlement was announced, a MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that Major Siddique's claims have been resolved without admission of liability and without recourse to the employment tribunal.